To kick off the new year, the Specials Team (Art, Music, Spanish, Physical Education) is implementing a positive behavior program to encourage our scholars in grades 5-8 to take full advantage of these enriching classes, and to model a positive example for the classmates. Please, take some time to visit with your student about the following incentives that he or she could earn at the end of each quarter:

TEAM incentive– at the end of each quarter, starting with Quarter 3, EACH specials teacher will select a section of scholars (grades 5-8) that has done a great job modeling classroom expectations. These 4 groups would then do a fun activity led by the specials teacher that selected them. (For example, the section of scholars that I select would perhaps have a YouTube DJ party where students will choose music they want to listen to for Music class).

INDIVIDUAL incentive– During each specials class period, instructors will be noting both positive and negative “checks” to monitor individual scholar participation/example. At the end of each quarter, the top 10% of positive check earners will be recognized at the End of Quarter Academic Awards Ceremony and receive a small award.

FIELD TRIP Opportunity– At the very end of the school year, the top 10% of positive check earners from 5^th-8^th grade will be invited to attend a field trip!

Please, encourage your student to take advantage of these opportunities. We are excited to recognize our students. They have each been invited to fill out a survey to provide input on what incentives they would like to work toward.

Hello everyone!

Next week we will be finishing up our dynamics unit which means our unit assessment!

We will review at the beginning of class but I also wanted to put the review on here so you can prepare yourself before class! The assessment is all matching!

Vocabulary:

Dynamics: The volume of a song

Volume: How loud something is

Crescendo: Getting louder

Descrescendo/diminuendo: Getting quieter

Decibel: The measurement of volume

Dynamics:

Pianissimo: Very quiet

Piano: Quiet

Mezzo piano: Medium quiet

Mezzo forte: Medium loud

Forte: Loud

Fortissimo: Very loud

After the assessment we will be writing our own music and performing at the appropriate dynamic level using the boomwhackers!

Good luck next week on your assessment!!